Review findings, analyses, assessments, and reports about the benefits of successful collaborations between Head Start programs, and child care providers. Early Head Start (EHS) and child care programs have to navigate child care and EHS policies and regulations to understand their implications and ensure successful partnerships. However, those two sets of rules don't always align easily. Use these resources to help partnerships understand, respect, and deal with the similarities and differences between EHS and child care policies and regulations.
Tools and Resources
Top Ten Ways CCDF Can Support Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships
Early Head Start and the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) both serve low-income families and their children; however, there are some differences in policy, operations, and funding requirements. EHS-CC Partnerships will benefit from strategies to bridge these differences. Explore ways to encourage stability and to identify opportunities to support partnerships and providers.
Research and Reports About Collaborations Between Head Start and Child Care
Explore findings, analyses, assessments, and reports about the benefits of successful collaborations between Head Start programs, and child care providers.
Data Explorer and State Profiles
Use this tool to search for data on various early care and education topics, including demographic information, program participation and funding, CCDF subsidy program administration, program quality improvement activities, and professional development and workforce initiatives.
National Database of Child Care Licensing Regulations
Use this tool to find and search for state and territory licensing regulations and agency contact information. Licensing and Child Care and Development Fund administrators can use this database to explore how other states and territories have developed clear, measurable and achievable regulations to better inform child care providers and safeguard children's health, development, and well-being.
National Program Standards Crosswalk Tool
This tool is prepopulated with national early childhood program standards (e.g., Head Start, accreditation, Caring for Our Children). State policy makers can use it to help develop and align program standards for licensing, quality rating and improvement systems, and pre-kindergarten programs. They can also search and compare the content of several sets of national standards.
CCDF Technical Assistance (TA) Resources
Explore these resources from the Office of Child Care. Find important information states and territories can use regarding reauthorization, the CCDF Final Rule, and other important CCDF topics.
Read more:
Resource Type: Article
National Centers: Program Management and Fiscal Operations
Program Type: Child Care Programs
Last Updated: February 7, 2025